Congress will perceive that with objections so radical it was impossible for me to approve the bill passed at the last session, and that the subject was too important to be treated in a hurried message within the last few hours of the close of a Congress. Concurring in the expediency of legislation for the organization of a general staff, I have thought a full exposition of my views on the subject would, perhaps, conduce to the framing of a measure which would carry into effect the views of the legislative department, while excluding the provisions which have compelled me to decline approving that devised by your predecessors. RICHMOND, May 28, 1864. The message was read. Ordered, That it lie upon the table. The Senate adjourned. SECRET SESSION. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the communication from Thomas C. Reynolds, governor of the State of Missouri, in relation to the vacancy existing in the representation of that State in the Confederate States Senate, submitted a report (No. 3); which was read. On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, Leave was granted Mr. Johnson of Missouri, on his motion, to communicate to the governor of the State of Missouri a copy of the said report, together with the action of the Senate thereon. On motion by Mr. Hill, Ordered, That the injunction of secrecy be removed from the first section of the act entitled "An act to fix the time for the assembling of the Congress at its next regular session," etc., approved May 27, 1864. A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary: Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States, on the 27th instant, approved and signed the following act and joint resolution: S. 16. An act to fix the time for the assembling of the Congress at its next regular session, and to authorize the President to convene the Congress at any place other than the seat of government; and S. 6. Joint resolution to authorize the removal of the public archives and of the Executive Departments of the Government. Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof. Mr. Sparrow (by leave) introduced A bill (S. 57) to provide for the appointment of officers with temporary rank and command; which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole. On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, to amend the bill by striking out, section 1, lines 10 and 11, the words "such commands as he may deem proper" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "any appropriate command where the commanding officer may be absent, On motion by Mr. Sparrow, to amend the proposed amendment by striking out the words "where the commanding officer may be absent," It was determined in the affirmative. On the question to agree to the amendment proposed by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, as amended, It was determined in the affirmative. On motion by Mr. Brown, to amend the bill by inserting after "rank of," section 1, line 6, the words "major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel," It was determined in the negative. On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, to amend the bill by inserting after "appoint," section 1, line 6, the word "Temporary, It was determined in the affirmative. On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the bill by striking out the words "President may consider their services therein necessary, section 2, lines 4, 5, and 6, and inserting in lieu thereof the word "temporary exigency may require," It was determined in the affirmative. No further amendment being made, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendments were concurred in. Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time. Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein. On motion by Mr. Orr, The Senate resolved into executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION. Mr. Orr, from the Committee on Rules, agreeably to instructions of the Senate, reported the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the following rule be adopted and numbered the fifty-second rule of the Senate: "When nominations shall be made in writing by the President of the Confederate States to the Senate, they shall be referred to an appropriate committee, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the Senate; and nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session without being again made by the President." On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, Ordered, That the Secretary be instructed to lay the foregoing rule before the President of the Confederate States and that the injunction of secrecy be removed therefrom. On motion by Mr. Sparrow, Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the communication from W. B. Lowry in relation to his appointment as colonel of the Eleventh Mississippi Regiment. The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary: To the Senate of the Confederate States: RICHMOND, VA., May 24, 1864. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, I hereby nominate the person named upon the annexed list to the office designated. JEFFERSON DAVIS. The PRESIDENT. NAVY DEPARTMENT, CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the following nomination for appointment in the Marine Corps: Second lieutenant. Everard T. Eggleston, of Texas, vice Second Lieut. F. MacRee, promoted. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, The message was read. S. R. MALLORY, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. To the Senate of the Confederate States: RICHMOND, VA., May 30, 1864. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Attorney-General, I hereby nominate James H. Patterson, to be district attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas. To the PRESIDENT. JEFFERSON DAVIS. DEPARTMENT OF Justice, ConfeDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to recommend that James H. Patterson be appointed district attorney of the Confederate States for the eastern district of Arkansas, in the place of W. M. Randolph, removed for disloyalty. The message was read. GEO. DAVIS, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. To the Senate of the Confederate States: RICHMOND, VA., May 27, 1864. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Postmaster-General, I hereby nominate the persons named upon the annexed list to the offices designated. JEFFERSON DAVIS. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 26, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to recommend for appointment as postmasters, with the advice and consent of the Senate, the following-named persons, who were appointed during the recess of the Senate: March 5, 1864, N. A. Bull, Orangeburg, S. C., vice J. V. Glover, resigned. April 16, 1864, Rufus W. Daniel, Weldon, N. C. The PRESIDENT. The message was read. JOHN H. REAGAN, Postmaster-General. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. To the Senate of the Confederate States: RICHMOND, VA., May 30, 1864. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Postmaster-General, I hereby nominate E. A. Thomas, to be postmaster at Holly Springs, Miss. JEFFERSON DAVIS. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Va., May 28, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to recommend for appointment as postmaster, with the advice and consent of the Senate, E. A. Thomas, Holly Springs, Marshall County, Miss. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The PRESIDENT. JOHN H. REAGAN, Postmaster-General. The message was read. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. To the Senate of the Confederate States: RICHMOND, VA., May 30, 1864. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Postmaster-General, I hereby nominate Dr. James H. Starr, to be agent of the Post-Office Department for the country west of the Mississippi River. JEFFERSON DAVIS. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 30, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to recommend for appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, Dr. James H. Starr, of Nacogdoches, Tex., as agent of the Post-Office Department for the country west of the Mississippi River, as authorized by an act of Congress approved February 10, 1864. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The PRESIDent. The message was read. JOHN H. REAGAN, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Senate of the Confederate States: JEFFERSON DAVIS. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Col. Bryan Grimes, of North Carolina, to be a brigadier-general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, to command the late General Daniel's brigade, Army of Northern Virginia, to rank from May 19, 1864. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 27, 1864. To the Senate of the Confederate States: Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate L. T. Nunnelee, of, to be second lieutenant, Stuart's Artillery, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America. JEFFERSON DAVIS. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEpartment, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of L. T. Nunnelee, of to be second lieutenant, Stuart's Artillery, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for distinguished valor and skill (under act approved April 16, 1862), to rank from February 27, 1864. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, The message was read. President, etc. J. A. SEDDON, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Senate of the Confederate States: Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate A. P. Sangrain, of Missouri, to be adjutant Twenty-seventh Arkansas Regiment, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America. JEFFERSON DAVIS. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of A. P. Sangrain, of Missouri, to be adjutant Twenty-seventh Arkansas Regiment, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, vice Lieutenant Magenis, promoted, to rank from March 15, 1863. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, The message was read. President, etc. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 28, 1864. To the Senate of the Confederate States: Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate John B. Hardeman, of Texas, to be a quartermaster, with the rank of major in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America. JEFFERSON DAVIS. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of John B. Hardeman, of Texas, to be a quartermaster, with the rank of major in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for duty with the brigade under command of Col. H. Randal, Trans-Mississippi Department (an original vacancy), to date from September 1, 1863. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. The message was read. President, etc. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 28, 1864. To the Senate of the Confederate States: Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate John W. Brown, of Texas, to be a commissary, with the rank of major in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America. JEFFERSON DAVIS. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, SIR: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of John W. Brown, of Texas, to be a commissary, with rank of major in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for duty with the late Thomas Green's brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department (an original vacancy), to date from September 1, 1863. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, JAMES A. SEDDON, CJ-VOL 4-04-8 President, etc. |